Velvet Sessions: Bret Michaels to kick off Pinktober campaign

Bret Michaels, former lead singer of the band Poison as well as a reality-show participant and judge, will perform at this month's Velvet Sessions at Universal's Hard Rock Hotel.

The lobby concert/cocktail party on Thursday also represents the kickoff of the hotel's Pinktober campaign, which raises funds for breast-cancer awareness. Michaels will flip the switch that turns a pink light onto the facade of the building and fountain.

Tickets for the concert are $50 and include select specialty drinks, finger foods and parking. (Tickets for the VIP section have been sold out for this month.) The event begins at 6:30 p.m., although advance ticket holders get entry at 6 p.m.

The Pinktober campaign also includes a silent auction that benefits Compassionate Hands & Hearts Breast Cancer Outreach. And in the month of October, 25 percent of the room rate on select pink-sheeted rooms goes to Breast Cancer Research Foundation.